Where to find mental health help
Whether or not you have health insurance, there are resources

Where to find mental health help?

Whether or not you have health insurance, there are resources

If you need a therapist, psychiatrist, hospital or other mental health service, you can find help whether or not you have health insurance.

Your family doctor, nurse, social worker or religious leader can help and also offer referrals to other services. Local universities may offer private and/or sliding-scale fee clinic treatment options through their departments of psychiatry or psychology.

Look for services in the yellow pages under "mental health," "health," "social services," "suicide prevention," "crisis intervention services," "hotlines," "hospitals," or "physicians" for phone numbers and addresses. In times of crisis, the emergency room doctor at a hospital will be able to tell you where and how to get further help.

Your employer may offer an employee assistance program (EAP) which can provide counseling and referral for mental health.

Man with therapistIf you have health insurance, your plan typically provides a roster of health care providers. Verify before making an appointment to confirm that they are still taking your insurance plan - the lists aren't always up to date.

Organizations that can offer help include:

community mental health centers

community mental health centers

state hospital outpatient clinics

social service agencies

local medical and/or psychiatric societies

Here are some additional resources for getting information and assistance:

Locate affordable health care in your area: The Federal Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides a Health Center Database for a nationwide directory of clinics to obtain low or no-cost healthcare.

Find NIMH Clinical Trials: Participants in clinical trials can gain access to new research treatments and help others by contributing to medical research. Find specific studies that are currently recruiting participants

Find a support group: Mental health associations and centers may sponsor groups in your area.